Towpath 'improvements'

IF YOU look on the Canal & River Trust's web site it's full of references to wildlife and how CaRT goes about its business whilst doing its best for the local flora and fauna, writes Ralph Freeman.

In reality I suggest this is far from the truth! How come CaRT/Sustrans can convert a nice mature towpath like the one shown in the first photograph into a cycle track and displace all the local towpath based wildlife in so doing as shown in the second photograph? The answer is I suggest is because CaRT is all about propaganda.

Spin

The attitude seems to be be—Please do not take note of what we do; instead just believe what we tell you we do. Doing exactly as you please and then employing a PR department to cover your tracks is easy-peasy. Ask any politician! To us old 'uns it is just telling lies, which is now called spin or PR because it sounds better. That in itself is, of course—spin.

Can you imagine a 'wildlife expert' inside CaRT telling those in Ivory Towers that by converting a towpath into a cycle track they are agreeing to trashing the local wildlife? Somewhat career limiting I would suggest? Instead what do these so called experts do? Blame boaters for interfering/destroying wildlife and telling folk how to feed ducks. Now why would I think that's not good use of my licence money?

Side effects

Then of course the new hi-speed cycle tracks attract the Strava/Lycra louts to the detriment of all other towpath users and also extend 'Bandit Areas' out into the sticks. Any potential villain can rob a boat and then disappear back into a local conurbation in minutes along these new cycle tracks. The best deterrent against robbery is a muddy towpath in my opinion. So do you, dear boater, approve of these so-called improvements? Is it not time to call an end to the destruction of the towpath as we know it?